Video News

Reprinted from an Arboretum Systems press release:

Arboretum Systems is pleased to announce its entry to the consumer video/audio market with Montage, the first media software that lets creators work like they think. Montage features a groundbreaking “trackless” workspace that allows the free manipulation of video, audio, stills, and text in an infinitely expandable window.

On display at the NAMM Show, January 16-19 in Los Angeles, Montage is the crystallization of Arboretum’s desire to change the way computers are used for video, film, multimedia, and music production at all levels.

The only consumer-priced alternative to Apple’s iMovie software, Montage was built for OS X from the ground up and is 100% Cocoa native. “Montage was created for aspiring movie makers who literally think ‘outside the box,’” said Arboretum CEO, Georges Jaroslaw. “If you can see a movie in your mind, you can easily create it in our software by editing and placing clips in the workspace. The user interface is completely transparent.”

Media clips can be imported or captured in real time from a FireWire DV camera using remote machine control, then freely arranged in the workspace to make movies.

When video clips are dragged on top of each other instant dissolves are created — clicking on the resulting connection graphic brings up a selection of fully editable professional compositors, transitions, and wipes. In addition, over a dozen video effects including edge detection, emboss, film noise, and color tint are available and can be applied to any video clip; a realtime preview box takes the guesswork out of adjusting effect parameters. Text boxes can be placed over video clips or keyed against an editable background with adjustable duration for scrolling.

With Arboretum’s prestigious history as a music software developer, Montage’s audio capabilities are second to none. Audio clips can be edited, arranged, stacked, and processed to generate stunning soundtracks. There is no track limit because … there are no tracks. The program comes with a wide variety of studio-quality effects from Arboretum’s acclaimed Hyperprism engine, and more can be added via a flexible plug-in architecture. Users of other video programs who want to enhance their final movie with cutting-edge audio will find Montage an ideal complement to their current software.

Both audio and video can be easily time-stretched to accomplish anything from filling out a few seconds of a scene to creating awesome slow motion effects. Clips can be nudged forward or backward frame by frame, and locked to the timeline to prevent accidental shifts. And the Overview window makes it extremely simple to zoom in on any portion of a movie, plus move individual clips or even entire scenes at once.

Montage is designed for novice digital movie makers or professionals who want a dynamic, productive new type of workspace. The software will be available in Q1 of 2003 at an MSRP of $149 and a special introductory price of $99. A fully functional, free trial version will be available at www.arboretum.com, as well as demos for OS X versions of Hyperprism, Ray Gun, and the new Ray Gun Pro.

SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS

System requirements include an Apple Macintosh computer with a G4 processor (500MHz or faster recommended), 128MB of RAM, 20GB of free hard disk space, a FireWire port for video transfer, a CD-ROM, and Mac OS X v10.2 or later. A color monitor that supports at least 800 X 600 resolution is recommended.

STANDARD FORMATS & EFFECTS

Montage imports all commonly accepted Mac formats including 3DMF, AIFF, Audio CD, AVI, BMP, Cubic VR, DLS, DV, FLC, FlashPix*, GIF, JPEG/JFIF, Macromedia Flash 5, MIDI, MPEG-1, MP3, M3U (MP3 Playlist files), MPEG-2*, MPEG-4 (MP4), Photoshop*, PICS, PICT, PNG, QuickTime, SF2 (SoundFont 2), Sound, Text, TIFF*, Virtual Reality (VR), and WAV. (*Some limitations may apply.)

Movies can be exported as AIFF, AVI, BMP, DV Stream, FLC, JPEG/JFIF, JPEG 2000 (Mac OS X only), MIDI, MPEG-4, Photoshop, PICT, PNG, QuickTime, System 7 Sound, Text, TIFF, and WAV.

Built-in video transitions include: Alpha Compositor, Channel Compositor, and Chroma Key (compositors); Crossfade, Explode, Implode, and Zoom (transitions); and Gradient Wipe, Iris, Matrix Wipe, Push, Radial, Slide, and Wipe (wipes).

Built-in video effects include: Alpha Gain, Brightness, ColorSync, HSL Balance, and RGB Balance (adjustments); Blur, Edge Detection, Emboss, General Convolution, and Sharpen (filters); and Color Style, Color Tint with B&W/Sepia/X-Ray/Cobalt settings, Film Noise, and Lens Flare (special effects).

Free built-in audio effects include: Hyperprism’s Auto Pan, Band Pass, Band Reject, Hi Pass, Flanger, Lo Pass, More Stereo, Ring Modulator, Tremolo, and Vibrato.

The remaining Hyperprism range of effects — Bass Maximizer, Chorus, Compressor, Doppler, Echo, EchoTranz, Formant Pitch Shift, Frequency Shifter, Hall Reverb , Harmonic Exciter, High Shelf , HyperPhaser, HyperVerb, Limiter, Low Shelf, M-S Matrix, Multi Delay, Noise Gate, Pan, Parametric EQ, Phaser, Pitch Changer, Quasi Stereo, Room Reverb, Single Delay, Sonic Decimator, Stereo Dynamics, Tube/Tape Saturator, Vocoder — as well as Ray Gun and Ray Gun Pro will be available as separate plug-in products with the Montage 1.0 release. Apple’s Audio Unit format will be supported with the 1.0 release or the first 1.1 upgrade.

COMPANY INFORMATION

Founded in 1993, Arboretum Systems manufactures, distributes and licenses video and audio software solutions for digital video editing, film/video post-production, music recording, multimedia, broadcast, and audio restoration to professional and consumer markets on a worldwide basis. More information is available at www.arboretum.com.

by Charles Fulton

Ulead’s new MediaStudio Pro 7 features new software-only realtime editing, display and output features said to outperform competing editing software. A Ulead test showed that MediaStudio Pro 7 is capable of simultaneously outputting five DV streams on a P4 2GHz machine with 512MB of RAM.

Other new features include real-time multi-track audio mixing, enhanced timecode and source management and a new titler with texture and motion effects.

MediaStudio Pro 7 will be on sale in the first quarter of 2003 for $495. Upgrade pricing has not yet been announced.

Reprinted from a Canopus press release:

Matrox Graphics Inc., the leading manufacturer of professional graphics solutions, today announced that the Matrox Parhelia 128MB digital video workstation graphics card is now available in a new bundle with Adobe After Effects 5.5, for only US$799 (a stand-alone value of US$1098). This bundled offering radically enhances the user’s compositing experience and efficiency, through Parhelia’s unique dual-display plus TV-output technology and free WYSIWYG plug-in for previewing After Effects projects on an NTSC or PAL video monitor.

“We are always looking for new ways to enhance the professional compositing workflow for our After Effects customers, including supporting the latest hardware innovations,” says David Trescot, director of dynamic media for Adobe. “The Matrox Parhelia board bundle will allow Adobe After Effects users to experience productivity gains with its extensive multi-display capabilities, including the ability to preview After Effects compositions in real-time on a full-screen video monitor.”

With a wide selection of multi-display modes, Parhelia provides After Effects users with the most productive environment for motion graphics and visual effects creation, which is crucial when working with multiple windows and extended timelines. Through Parhelia’s PureVideo technology and WYSIWYG plug-in for Adobe After Effects, users can preview their 2D or 3D compositions full-screen on a TV or video monitor to check for safe title area, proper color temperature and any interlacing artifacts prior to rendering. What’s more, Parhelia’s adjustable proc-amp controls for both the video window and TV allow users to benefit from unmatched image display quality.

“Matrox is the only graphics card company that is catering to the needs of digital video professionals through customized hardware and software development,” says Dan Wood, vice president technical marketing, Matrox Graphics Inc. “Parhelia is the definitive graphics card for Adobe After Effects users, and this bundle offers the unique combination of both products at a considerably lower price.”

Pricing and Availability

This special US$799 offer will be available throughout the Americas from Matrox Video Products Authorized Resellers in January 2003. Similar offers will be available worldwide. For more information on the Matrox Parhelia and Adobe After Effects bundle, please contact the Matrox Video Products Group at 1-800-361-4903 (US and Canada), (514) 685-2630, or email video.info@matrox.com

Reprinted from a RealNetworks press release:

RealNetworks, Inc. (Nasdaq: RNWK) today announced the Helix DNA Producer source code is now available to software developers through the Helix Community at www.helixcommunity.org. Helix DNA Producer is the core source code of RealNetworks’ Helix Producer, which thousands of content creators already use to create RealAudio and RealVideo content. RealNetworks also announced that more than 5,000 software developers have registered in the Helix Community since the initial launch of the community in July.

Helix DNA Producer source code will enable application and content developers to build multi-format content creation products for PCs, Web cams, traffic cameras, personal video recorders, mobile phones and many other devices. Helix DNA Producer is the second release of source code into the Helix Community. In late October, RealNetworks released the Helix DNA Client source code with support from Nokia, PalmSource, Red Hat, Symbian and thirteen other companies.

“Momentum for Helix continues to accelerate. Today’s announcement builds on the tremendous developer response to the Helix DNA Client,” said Rob Glaser, founder and CEO, RealNetworks, Inc.. “Now with the Helix DNA Producer we are taking Helix to the next level, by making it easier than ever for developers to create applications for content creation in the professional, industrial and consumer markets.”

As with the Helix DNA Client, the free Helix DNA Producer source code will allow developers to build applications that support any file format from any operating system platform. Application developers will also be able to readily access code to integrate RealAudio, RealVideo and Ogg Vorbis output, and to expand the outputs to any number of media formats - such as Windows Media, QuickTime, MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MP3 and MPEG-4.

The Helix DNA Producer is available for the Windows and Linux operating systems. A pre-beta release of the Mac OS X version of the Helix DNA Producer is also available. The Helix DNA Producer will be licensed under both an open source and a commercial community source license. Both licenses are free of charge and include development and distribution rights. Community source licensees desiring to port Helix DNA Producer to other platforms have the opportunity to access source code of RealAudio and RealVideo for that purpose.

Features

The Helix DNA Producer offers a robust platform for further development. Features available in the Helix Community include:

Reprinted from an RealNetworks press release:

RealNetworks, Inc. (Nasdaq: RNWK), the global leader in media delivery on the Internet, today announced the availability of a new plug-in for Adobe Premiere, which provides support for RealVideo 9 encoding. The plug-in, which supports Adobe Premiere versions 6.0 and 6.5, is available for free at http://forms.real.com/rnforms/resources/extensions/premiere/.

“Adobe Premiere customers are professionals who demand high quality output options for distributing their video content to a variety of mediums, including the Web,” said Dave Trescot, director of Digital Video for Adobe. “As Internet distribution of video content grows, video compression quality becomes even more important. Adobe Premiere and RealVideo 9 offer the quality and ease of use content providers require.”

“Media and technology companies are embracing RealVideo 9 because it makes video a compelling experience for both narrowband and broadband users,” said Kevin Foreman, general manager, Helix, RealNetworks, Inc. “Adobe Premiere is one of the leading cross platform products for creating video content for the web and we are happy to offer Premiere users these free RealVideo 9 plug-ins.”

RealVideo 9 provides 30% bandwidth savings over RealVideo 8, enabling content providers either to maintain their current quality level and save on bandwidth costs or improve quality and maintain current bandwidth rates. With near DVD quality video now possible at 500 Kbps, RealVideo 9 greatly improves the economics of Internet-movie distribution. Two full-length movies can now be stored on a CD and up to fifteen full-length movies will fit on a DVD. RealVideo 9 also supports all HDTV formats and resolutions at data rates far below those of traditional HDTV. RealVideo 9 support is included in RealOne Player and is available for earlier versions of the RealPlayer technology. Testing by an independent 3rd party firm, KeyLabs, indicates that RealVideo 9 provided smoother motion, sharper image quality and an overall stronger viewer preference over Windows Media.*

The RealMedia plug-in is available for Adobe Premiere 6.0 and 6.5 on Windows and Mac OS 9 platforms.

Keylab video comparison is available at http://www.keylabs.com/results/realnetworks/vidperf9.shtml

About RealNetworks

RealNetworks, Inc. based in Seattle, is the recognized leader in media delivery on the Internet. It develops and markets software products and services designed to enable users of personal computers and other consumer electronic devices to send and receive audio, video and other multimedia services using the Web. Consumers can access and experience audio/video programming and download RealNetworks consumer software on the Internet at http://www.real.com. RealNetworks’ systems and corporate information is located on the Internet at http://www.realnetworks.com.

Reprinted from an Incite press release:

Incite Multimedia Corporation has released Incite Editor 3.0 and it is now shipping worldwide.

Incite Editor 3.0 is the new generation of the Incite Editor non-linear editing application for broadcasting and post production, powered by Matrox DigiSuite MAX hardware. A multifaceted, distributive production tool, Incite Editor 3.0 simplifies workflow through its new state-of-the-art interface, new media management tools and built in Task Server technology. In addition, the robust database architecture delivers unmatched freedom and flexibility when it comes to collaborative production, allowing full transparency with Incite’s product family and third-party applications in networking environments.

“Incite Editor 3.0 is all about revolutionizing workflow, whether it is on a single workstation or network based”, says Amir Rijavec, Director of Product Management for Incite. “The emphasis is placed on offering a distributive application that can communicate freely with other workstations and has seamless access to all media assets, especially crucial in tapeless network environments. Of course networking is a key feature and we take pride that we offer a variety of scenarios, whether it is point to point, 1394 networking, NAS or SAN, for both small and large scale facilities, as well as for editors on the move or in the field - the edit suite is no longer an island. And, Incite exploits new breakthroughs in OS and PC architecture like CPU hyper-threading so that editors can take advantage of both increases in traditional performance and new collective concepts like render farming and batch processing. All of these points are part and parcel of Incite’s Editor 3.0 family of products and are absolutely fundamental for the technical directors and system integrators who are spearheading designs for today’s broadcasters and post facilities. It will have a huge impact on the industry.”

Incite Editor 3.0 offers:

• A powerfully redesigned user interface that streamlines each step of production.

• Edit during capture: Edit media files while they are being captured to disk (Studio and Suite versions).
• Batch render while editing: Edit sequences while batch rendering clips in the background.
• Built in Task Server technology: manages local render requests and can be expanded to distribute tasks over the network (render farming).
• Advanced media management tools with full control over all media assets and metadata.
• Transparent access to local and network shared storage of media, graphics and effects.
• Enhancements for Incite Editor’s renowned editors toolkit, real-time video and audio FX, advanced audio editing features, and compositing features.
• Optimized for the latest Service Packs of Windows 2000 and Windows XP Professional.
• Multi-threaded architecture takes full advantage of today’s CPUs, including Hyperthreading when using Intel Xeon processors and Windows XP Professional (only supported on Incite certified systems).
• Professional image quality provided by Matrox DigiSuite MAX video technology.
• Robust and open architecture designed for project collaboration and SAN-networking.
• New project configuration tools and configuration templates, which can be customized and modified by network administrators, system integrators and news directors on the fly.
• The same easy-to-use interface design applies to the entire Incite product family - learn one, know them all!
• Dynamic transparency with the Incite product family. Open the same project using different formats in different Incite applications: Low-res proxy, DV, Standard Definition and High Definition (HD).

More about Incite:

Incite Multimedia Corporation, Inc. designs editing software used by independent editors, post-production facilities and TV broadcasters around the world. Incite’s product line offers professional end-to-end solutions to efficiently capture, cut, finish, and deliver high quality video and audio in a collaborative workflow environment. Building on relationships with leading technological partners, Incite Multimedia supplies versatile and scalable products for today’s content creators delivering to TV, the web, tape or DVD. For more information visit www.inciteonline.com

Reprinted from a Sony press release:

Sony’s latest generation of Micro Vault USB storage media devices are built on the USB 2.0 platform, offering faster data transfer than their predecessors yet maintain backward compatibility with the USB 1.1 protocol.

The Micro Vault family includes a new 256 Megabyte (MB) model that can store the equivalent of 176 floppy disks, making it easy to transfer and store large amounts of data.

According to Tom Evans, vice president of marketing in the media and application solutions division of Sony Electronics’ Business Solutions and Systems Company, Micro Vault USB 2.0 media is designed for personal computer users who want maximum speed, convenience and security to store and share large digital images, music, video and presentation files. Capacities for the new Micro Vault family now range from 32 MB to 256 MB.

“Since computers and laptops with USB 2.0 ports have begun to ship in volume, our new Micro Vault units can help users take full advantage of their system’s high-speed capabilities,” Evans said. “Possible uses for the pocket-sized devices are endless–colleagues can swap files mid-flight, students can tote term papers and resumes around campus, and parents can even store their children’s medical information and images. They are also extremely practical and fashionable for both the business person and home user.”

Five Times Faster and Twice the Capacity
By employing Hi-speed USB technology, the new devices provide users with a file transfer speed that is five times faster than USB 1.1. Micro Vault USB 2.0 reads files at a speed of up to 5.5 MB per second, and writes files at up to 1 MB per second. For context, 5 MB is equivalent to 30 seconds of broadcast-quality video.

The new 256 MB-capacity model doubles the highest capacity of the first-generation of Micro Vault devices. With a 256 MB model, users can store huge files, including digital still images, presentation materials, digital audio and video, and even database files.

Computers with Windows 2000, ME, XP and Mac OS 9 and higher grade operating systems will automatically recognize the MicroVault USB 2.0 media device without requiring the installation of software drivers.

For steadfast security, the Micro Vault USB 2.0 line comes bundled with new user-friendly Password Lock software, which allows users to password-protect partitioned files or the entire drive. Password Lock, supported by Windows 2000, ME and XP, ensures the privacy of files when the Micro Vault device is shared with others, or if it is ever misplaced.

Sony’s USB 2.0 Micro Vault product line will be available in January through major retail outlets and online sites, including www.SonyStyle.com. The devices are available in the following colors and capacities:

a red 32 MB unit for a suggested retail price of $59.99;

a blue 64 MB unit for a suggested retail price of $79.99;

a black 128 MB unit for a suggested retail price of $129.99; and

a gray 256 MB unit for a suggested retail price of $199.99.

As part of an on-pack promotion, consumers who purchase either a 64MB or 128MB unit can receive by mail their choice of a free Micro Vault accessory–a USB extension cable, a detachable neck strap or a keychain carrying case.

Reprinted from a CSB-Digital press release:

CSB-Digital, creator of affordable special effects software for home video users and photographers, today announced the full release of its flagship product, AlamDV2. This is the first time that it has been widely available in Europe on CD-ROM, as well as globally at AlamDV.com.

AlamDV2 gives the user the power to add impressive combinations of illumination effects, explosions, muzzle flashes, lightswords and magic to their projects.

With over 700 effects currently available, AlamDV2 opens up a new world of visual opportunities and gives access to the world’s largest online amateur special effects community where you can showcase your work and learn about new techniques. Whether for personal, business or educational use, AlamDV2 enables you to take your projects to a new level of sophistication and professionalism.

For more information or to download a demo version, visit http://www.csb-digital.com/alamdv/about/pressrelease.php

Pricing and Availability

AlamDV2.1.4 for Windows XP, 2000, ME, 98 and Macintosh OS 9 is available now on CD-ROM in Europe and is also available globally from alamdv.com as an online download. A Mac OS X version will follow early in 2003 when AlamDV2.5 is released. The recommended retail price is £49.99 (approx. $76.48 USD or 79 euros).

by Charles Fulton

Ulead has introduced COOL 3D Studio, a 3D animation package featuring additional tools designed for video editors, such as keyframe timelines for each graphic object and the ability to import models from 3D Studio Max. New particle effects include smoke and fire. COOL 3D Studio’s new 3D space lighting controls allow the creation of intricate light effects. A library of primitive shapes is also provided, along with a path editor and lathe tool.

COOL 3D Studio will be available to download for $129. Upgrades will be available for $60 for a limited time.